Objective:To summarize the preliminary clinical experience of utilizing ureteral balloon dilation catheter in the treatment of "difficult ureter" during ureteroscopic lithotripsy, and to discuss the efficacy and safety of the technique.Methods:Clinical data of 28 patients (30 sides) with upper urinary tract calculi admitted to Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Affiliated to Tsinghua University from April 2021 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 23 males (82.1%) and 5 females (17.9%), with age of (51.5±13.6) years. Among the 30 sides, 20 (66.7%) on the left and 10(33.3%) were on the right. Calculi were either located in the renal pelvis or calyxes in 7 sides (23.3%), upper ureter in 17 sides (56.7%), and lower ureter in 6 sides (20.0%). The maximum diameter of the stones was (9.4±4.2)mm, and 23 sides (76.7%) were combined with hydronephrosis before surgery. When "difficult ureter" was encountered during the procedure, that is, it was difficult to insert ureteroscope or ureteral access sheath (UAS) due to small ureteral lumen, balloon catheter was used for dilation in the first stage, in which the balloon diameter was 4 mm on 22 sides and 5mm on 8 sides. The instrument was retrogradely inserted through the working channel of F8 semi-rigid ureteroscope, and the small site of the ureteral lumen was dilated under direct endoscopic view. After a single dilation, the balloon catheter was withdrawn, and the effect of dilation was evaluated by semi-rigid ureteroscopy to determine whether to proceed with the following procedures. The intraoperative data were recorded, including surgical method, stage of "difficult ureter" occurred, site of the small part of the ureter, related data of utilizing ureteral dilatation balloon catheter, grade of ureteral injury after dilatation (according to the 0-4 grading classification of endoscopic ureteral injuries), total operation time, balloon catheter-related adverse events, stone-free rate, and time of removing ureteral stents.Results:Among the 30 sides, 29 (96.7%) had difficulty in the stage of ureteroscope insertion, and 1(3.3%) had difficulty in the stage of UAS insertion. A total of 37 small sites of ureter were involved, including 18 in the intramural segment, 10 in the lower part, 2 in the middle part, and 7 in the upper part. Each site was dilated once with a median time of 3 (0.5, 5.0) minutes and a median maximum balloon pressure of 1 215.9(1 215.9, 1 443.9)kPa[12.0(12.0, 14.3)atm]. There were 28 sites of grade Ⅰ injury, 8 sites of grade Ⅱinjury, and 1 site of grade Ⅲinjury. The total duration of unilateral procedure was (73.4±30.3) min. Ureteroscope or UAS insertion was successful in 28 sides(93.3%) after balloon dilation, and failed in 2 sides(6.7%), both of which were in the stage of inserting ureteroscope and ureteral stent was indwelled for the second-stage procedures. On the first day after surgery, the hemoglobin level was (134.1±12.9)g/L, which was significantly different from the preoperative parameters ( P<0.01), and serum creatinine level was (86.7±23.2)μmol/L, which showed no significant difference from the preoperative one ( P=0.263). The primary stone-free rate was 92.9% (26/28), and the total postoperative complication rate was 13.3% (4/30), including 3 of grade Ⅰ (lateral lower abdominal pain requiring additional analgesic drugs) and 1 of grade Ⅱ (postoperative hematuria requiring intravenous hemostatic drugs). Follow-up was conducted for 3 months. All of the 28 successful sides had their ureteral stents removed before the last follow-up, and the time of removal was (36.9±11.5) days. No hydronephrosis was found in the ipsilateral kidney by ultrasound 3 months after operation. Conclusions:Balloon dilation technique showed good efficacy and safety in the treatment of "difficult ureter" during ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

Objective:To retrospectively summarize disease characteristics and the clinical experience of minimally invasive endoscopy in the treatment of upper urinary tract obstruction caused by ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease.Methods:Three patients with bilateral ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to July 2021 were involved. Case 1, male, 45 years old, admitted due to bilateral hydronephrosis for 5 months. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteropelvic stones (encrustation), right ureteral atresia, left ureteral stenosis, and systemic vasculitis. Left double J tube insertion and right nephrostomy were performed in another hospital. We conducted antegrade percutaneous nephroscopy combined with retrograde ureteroscopy surgery and assisted balloon dilation to treat bilateral lesions stage by stage. Case 2, Male, 12 years old, admitted due to bilateral abdominal pain for 6 weeks. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteral stones, bilateral hydronephrosis, and dermatomyositis. After the failure of double J tube insertion in another hospital, double nephrostomy was performed instead. We performed left percutaneous nephroscopy and right percutaneous nephroscopy combined with ureteroscopy for the treatment of bilateral lesions. Case 3, female, 32 years old, was admitted because of pain in the left lower back and abdomen for over 6 months. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteral stones, bilateral ureteral stenosis, and dermatomyositis. She underwent three times of ESWL and once URS before. We performed ureteroscopic surgery for bilateral lesions. During the surgery, various degrees of crusting in the renal pelvis or ureter were observed in all 3 cases, and the lesions were removed using pneumatic lithotripsy combined with forceps or baskets. After surgery, oral antibiotics were continuously used for 1-3 months. The efficacy and prognosis were evaluated based on the follow-up of urine, imaging, and endoscopic examinations at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.Results:All 3 surgeries were successfully completed. At 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, follow-up CT showed no crusting in the left ureter, and endoscopy showed good mucosal wound healing and unobstructed lumen in case 1. There were still some crusting lesions and lumen stenosis in the right renal pelvis, and the right ureter reconstruction surgery was ultimately performed. There were no crusting on both sides and the urinary tract was unobstructed after 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up in case 2 and case 3. Postoperative pathological examination showed chronic inflammation of urothelial mucosal tissue, small pieces of proliferative fibrous tissue with peripheral calcification. Calcification layer composition analysis showed magnesium ammonium phosphate and carbonate apatite. No related complications occurred in case 2 and case 3.Conclusions:Urothelial crusted inflammatory disease is rare clinically, and the diagnosis and treatment strategies are rarely reported domestically and internationally. Preoperative imaging examination, intraoperative findings and postoperative pathology or calcification composition analysis are of instruction for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Minimally invasive endoscopy treatment for upper urinary tract obstruction caused by ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease has a good effect. Long-term efficacy and other adjuvant treatment need long-term follow-up and clinical practice.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on survival and treatment-related toxicity in postoperative recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 147 patients with postoperative locoregional recurrent ESCC receiving chemoradiotherapy in Huai'an First People's Hospital from 2016 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Pectoralis muscle area (PMA) was determined using routine pre-radiotherapy CT simulation scan above the aortic arch level. Sarcopenia was defined as a cut-off value of pectoralis muscle index (PMI) (PMA/height 2) <11.55 cm 2/m 2 for males and <8.69 cm 2/m 2 for females. The incidence of toxicity, 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were statistically compared between patients with and without sarcopenia. Results:Sarcopenia was detected in 49 of 147 (33.3%) patients. The incidence of grade 3-4 toxicities in sarcopenic patients was significantly higher compared to that in their counterparts without sarcopenia (40.8% vs. 18.4%, P=0.005). In addition, patients with sarcopenia had significantly worse 1-year (61.2% vs. 82.7%) and 3-year OS rates (10.2% vs. 28.6%) than those without sarcopenia (both , P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS ( P<0.001). Conclusion:PMI based on CT simulation scan has prognostic value in postoperative locoregional recurrent ESCC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy, which probably serves as a novel diagnostic tool for sarcopenia.

We reviewed and developed an indicator system framework for assessing teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training through literature research, expert consultation, analytic hierarchy process and factor analysis. We also made an empirical study on the constructed index system. The system included 3 domains (A1: evaluation of laparoscopic simulator; A2: operation evaluation of experimental animals; A3: evaluation of clinical practice), 10 second-level indicators and 23 third-level indicators for assessing teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training. The indicator system framework has good internal consistency (Cronbach α= 0.968) and external consistency (>0.72). The empirical study found that: in the results of A1-A3 in the first level indicator, the score of the experienced group was significantly higher than that of the inexperienced group ( P<0.05). In the evaluation results of the 10 secondary indicators in the secondary indicators B1-B10, the score of the experienced group was significantly higher than that of the inexperienced group ( P<0.01). For the first time, we have established and evaluated a comprehensive evaluation indicator system which is reliable and effective and can be used for further evaluation of teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training. The following empirical studies have verified the effectiveness and practicability of the evaluation system.

Objective:To explore the precision treatment effect of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB) based on the proportion method for drug susceptibility test, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating MDR-PTB treatment plan.Methods:One hundred and eighty patients with MDR-PTB treated in Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control from January 5, 2016 to April 30, 2018 were enrolled. The initial treatment plan after diagnosis was six months of amikacin (AM), pyrazinamide (Z), levofloxacin (LFX), ethambutol (E), prothionamide (PTO) and 18 months of Z, LFX, E, PTO. According to whether proportion method for drug susceptibility test for 10 commonly used drugs was implemented, patients were divided into precision treatment group and empirical treatment group. In the precision treatment group, the treatment plans were adjusted according to the results of the drug susceptibility test. The treatment plans and disease outcomes of the two groups of patients were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:Among the 180 patients, there were 113 patients in the precision treatment group and 67 patients in the empirical treatment group. The drug resistance rates of the precision treatment group from low to high were: capromycin (CM) (0, 0/113), AM (2.65%, 3/113) and kanamycin (KM) (2.65%, 3/113), para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) (7.96%, 9/113), PTO (11.50%, 13/113), ofloxacin (OFX)(38.05%, 43/113), E (39.82%, 45/113), and streptomycin(S) (76.99%, 87/113). In the precision treatment group, the drugs were adjusted for 104 person-times according to the proportion method for drug susceptibility test during the treatment, from low to high: AM (3 person-times), PTO (13 person-times), LFX (43 person-times) and E (45 person-times). The treatment success rate of the precision treatment group was 78.8%(89/113), which was higher than that of the experience treatment group (52.2%(35/67)), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=13.805, P=0.000 2). In the precision treatment group and empirical treatment group, there were no statistically significant differences of alanine aminotransferase elevated (32.3%(31/96) vs 34.0%(18/53)), serum creatinine elevated (4.2%(4/96) vs 5.7%(3/53)), and white blood cell count decreased (24.0%(23/96) vs 22.6%(12/53)) (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The traditional treatment plan based on the proportion method for drug susceptibility test has a high success rate in the treatment of MDR-PTB, which is still a worthy choice.

Objective:To make an empirical study on verifying whether the self-developed simple laparoscopic simulator can play a good role in the training of laparoscopic skills.Methods:Twenty-four Batch 2018 and Batch 2019 undergraduates of five-year clinical medicine of the Army Medical University were recruited in this study, and they were randomly divided into a research group and a control group for 4 weeks of simulation training, 3 times a week, 1 class hour each time. The training content was fundamental laparoscopic skills (FLSs). Before and after the training, the assessment was performed and the results and completion time were recorded. After the training, a satisfaction questionnaire was conducted among all trainees. SPSS 22.0 was used for data statistical analysis.Results:There was no statistical difference between the completion time and assessment results of the two groups before training ( P > 0.05). After four weeks of training, the completion time of the research group was shortened by 10.03% and the training performance increased by 35.17%; the completion time of the control group was shortened by 2.09%, and the training performance improved 12.34%. The comparison between groups found that the research group was superior than the control group, and the performance of the two groups were all improved after training. Most trainees recognized the simulator and were willing to promote it to other trainees according to the questionnaire feedback. Conclusion:The original laparoscopic simulator has a better training effect on simulation training than the traditional apprenticeship teaching has, which is of great significance for the promotion and optimization of laparoscopic skills teaching.

Objective:To introduce the preliminary experience of domestic disposable digital flexible ureteroscope (ZebraScope?)in the treatment of upper urinary calculi.Methods:The clinical data of 16 patients with upper urinary calculi treated by ZebraScope? in our hospital from February to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The scope is composed of a handle and shaft, the image can be transferred through the transmission line at the end of the handle. There were 10 males and 6 females. The mean age was 42.1 years (26-63 years). 12 cases of upper ureteral calculi and 4 cases of renal calculi included. Mean diameter was 1.3cm (0.8-2.1cm). Ureteral stents were preoperatively placed in 4 patients and no pre-stent were in 12 patients. Two patients had a history of endoscopic lithotripsy. The ureteral sheath was used in 4 patients with F12/14, 10 patients with F11/13, and 2 patients with F10/12. Eight patients were treated with a stone basket. Intra-operative lithotripsy was performed using 200um optical fiber combined with holmium laser, and 6Fr ureteral stent was routinely indwelling for 2-4 weeks. The operation time, postoperative complications, hospital-in time, stone clearance rate and other related parameters were summarized and analyzed.Results:Of the 16 patients, 14 succeed and 2 patients failed and secondary operation was applied due to poor ureteral condition. The mean operative time was 55.6 minutes (32-115 minutes). The average laser emission time was 25.2 minutes (10-65 minutes). There was no image degradation and scope damage during the operation. All the patients recovered well after the operation, and no postoperative complications such as fever and pain occurred. Two patients received external physical vibration lithecbole therapy. The average hospital-in time was 1.2 days (1-3 days). One month after the operation, the calculi clearance rate was 87.5% (14/16).Conclusion:Our preliminary study found that ZebraScope? could be safe and effective in the treatment of upper urinary calculi less than 2 cm. Futhter verification is required in larger renal stones.

Objective:To evaluate the risk of infectious complication after endoscopic surgery for the treatment of upper urinary tract calculi combined with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bacteriuria.Methods:The clinical data of 14 patients who were diagnosed with upper urinary tract calculi combined with CRE bacteriuria and treated in Tsinghua University affiliated Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 males and 7 females, aged from 34 to 71 years old (mean 58.2 years old). The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography, CT or abdominal X-ray. Fourteen cases underwent 15 procedures, including 4 RIRS and 11 PCNL. One patient underwent 2 PCNL procedures at an interval of 1 week, and 1 patient underwent PCNL 16 days after nephrostomy. There were 13 cases of renal calculi and 1 case of upper ureteral calculi. Stones were found on the left side in 8 cases and the right side in 6 cases. There were 3 cases of solitary stone, 4 cases of multiple stones and 7 cases of staghorn stone. The maximum diameter of stones was (31.5±10.2)mm in patients who underwent PCNL, and(10.8±2.6)mm in patients undergoing RIRS. The complete blood count, blood biochemistry, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were tested postoperatively on the same day of the procedure and 1 day after the procedure. Abdominal X-ray was performed 1-2 days postoperatively, and the ureteral stent (double J) was removed 4 weeks after the procedure. Fourteen patients with CRE bacteriuria underwent 15 endoscopic procedures. Urine culture identified 7 cases of Escherichia coli, 6 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 1 case of Enterobacter cloacae. Preoperative blood culture was performed in 3 cases, of which 1 case was negative and 1 case was Klebsiella pneumoniae positive. Before operation, 11 cases were empirical treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, including monotherapy in 10 cases and drug combination therapy in 1 case. Sensitive antibiotics against CRE were prescribed in 4 cases preoperatively, including monotherapy in 2 cases and drug combination therapy in 2 cases. Antibiotics were used preoperatively for 1-24 days (mean 7.1 days).Results:After the operation, 7 cases received monotherapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Sensitive antibiotics against CRE were prescribed in 4 cases postoperatively, including monotherapy in 4 cases and drug combination in therapy 4 cases. Postoperative antibiotics were used for 2-17 days (mean 6.8 days). There were 3 cases of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) after operation, and there were no cases of sepsis, septic shock or death. The main components of stones were ammonium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate in 8 patients and calcium oxalate monohydrate in 6 patients.Conclusions:Effective measures can be taken to reduce or avoid bacteremia caused by CRE, reducing mortality and the use of antibiotics. Endoscopic surgery can be performed only after the clinical symptoms and laboratory tests have significantly improved. Patients with fever and other clinical symptoms and abnormal infectious markers should be treated with targeted antimicrobial therapy.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) accompanied with diarrhea.Methods:From January 11 to February 6 in 2020, the clinical data of 663 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were collected and divided into diarrhea group and non-diarrhea group according to whether they had diarrhea or not. The differences in baseline characteristics, basic disease history, clinical manifestations, chest computed tomography (CT), laboratory findings, disease severity and mortality between the two groups were compared. Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis.Results:Among 663 COVID-19 patients, 70 (10.6%) patients accompanied with diarrhea. The proportion of fatigue and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels of diarrhea group were higher than those of non-diarrhea group (58.6%, 41/70 vs. 28.2%, 167/593; and 64.2%, 43/67 vs. 50.4%, 277/550), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=26.891 and 4.566, both P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of pneumonia in chest CT between diarrhea group and non-diarrhea group (100.0%, 62/62 vs. 99.4%, 529/532) ( P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of mild and normal type, severe type and critical type between diarrhea group and non-diarrhea group (35.7%, 25/70 vs. 38.6%, 229/593; 50.0%, 35/70 vs. 47.2%, 280/593; and 14.3%, 10/70 vs. 14.2%, 84/593, respectively) (all P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the mortality of mild and normal type, severe type and critical type between diarrhea group and non-diarrhea group (0 vs. 0.5%, 3/593; 0 vs. 0 and 1.4%, 1/70 vs. 3.5%, 21/593) (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Patients with COVID-19 accompanied with diarrhea are more likely to have fatigue and increased LDH level. Diarrhea is not significantly correlated with the disease severity of patients with COVID-19.

Objective: To summarize our preliminary clinical experience of ultrasound-guided needle-perc combined with standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the treatment of staghorn stones, and to analyze its safety and efficacy. Methods: The clinical data of 65 patients with staghorn stones treated by ultrasound-guided needle-perc combined with standard PCNL under general anesthesia with the patient in prone position from December 2017 to June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 41 males and 24 females were included. The mean age was (53.5+ 8.9) years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was (25.1±2.9) kg/m², and the mean stone diameter was (10.9±3.1) cm. Among them, there were 3 cases with bilateral staghorn stones, 38 cases with complete staghorn calculi, 36 cases with non- or mild preoperative hydronephrosis, 12 cases with previous ipsilateral renal surgery, and 9 cases with solitary kidneys. Ultrasound-guided renal access and tract dilation were used to establish F24 standard channel. Pneumatic combined with ultrasonic lithotripsy with suction system was used to treat staghorn stones under nephroscope. Needle-perc consists of F4.2 needle-like metal sheath connected with a three-way tube. A 0.6 mm diameter video fiber, 200 um holmium laser fiber and liquid perfusion device can be connected through the three-way tube respectively. The residual stone in the parallel calyx after standard PCNL were punctured by needle-perc under ultrasound guidance, and then the holmium laser fiber was used for lithotripsy. Results: In this study, a total of 68 renal units were included. The median operative time was 79.8 minutes, ranging 45-129 minutes. The median decrease of hemoglobin on postoperative day 1 was 10.6 g/L, ranging 0-25.9 g/L. The median length of postoperative hospital stay was 5.5 days, ranging 4-7 days and the median time of tract establishment was 4.8 minutes, ranging 2.5-9.6 minutes. The median number of standard tract established was 1.5, ranging 1-3 and the median number of needle-perc punctured was 1.0, ranging 1-3. The total complication rate was 10.3% (7 cases), including 5 cases of Clavien grade Ⅰ, 2 cases of postoperative fever, 3 cases of analgesic use. There were 2 cases of Clavien grade Ⅱ. All of them were blood transfusion. The initial stone free rate was 79.4%(54/68). Of the 14 patients with residual stones, 9 patients underwent second-stage operation, 7 patients were stone free, and the final stone free rate was 89.7%(61/68). Conclusions Ultrasound-guided needle-perc combined with standard PCNL is safe and effective in the treatment of staghorn stone.